Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » living in: a christmas story

Confession- I haven’t been quite in the holiday mood lately. Unsent Christmas cards are piled up on my kitchen table. No wreath hangs on my front door. So to snap out of it I curled up under a big quilt and had myself a private viewing of A Christmas Story. Suddenly, I find myself humming carols and craving “grown up” egg nog. Coincidence? No.

[image above, clockwise from top left: hat $19.50,multicolored lights $24, dial soap $1.09, leg lamp $199, buffalo plaid scarf $8.99, candy canes $2.99, tin cars $15.99+, Daisy Red Ryder BB gun $36, vintage crepe paper santa $7.95, composition notebook $1, paper targets $3.25, emerson glasses]

As a kid, the Merrick family never watched A Christmas Story. My mom pulled for “White Christmas” and my dad for “A Miracle on 34th Street”, both wonderful, both classics, but both lacking that kitschy Norman Rockwell Christmas spirit that I’ve grown so fond of. Tin ornaments and old school colored lights make every holiday cozier. Plus nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a fishnet leg lamp and a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun. Be careful though, you’ll shoot your eye out. -amy m.

[image above, clockwise from top left: santa ornaments $26,pickle ornament $10, bottle brush ornaments $22, tin top $5.99, clip on candle $8, tabletop tree $69, radio flyer $129, bunny slippers $27, tin fire truck $15]

amy merrick, living in

Fabulous! I enjoy it now (25 years later) even more than the first time – it’s a still a tradition to watch every year…and I have that pickle ornament! I look forward to “living In’s” now every week – so glamorous, so nuanced! Hope some made it into the d*s book!

My favorite “Living In” post ever!
Love the crepe paper Santa, bottle brush ornaments, and the toys!
These are the kind of things I decorate my house with at Christmas!!! Great job, keep up the fantastic work!!!

ahhh! love a christmas story. just watched it on netflix streaming to get in the holiday mood. i also have a nightlight in my bathroom that is modeled after the leg lamp and it’s one of my prized possessions.

Thank you for this! This is one of my all time favorite movies, I can quote every line from it, and that tree when the boys first see it on Christmas morning! Nothing brings me back to childhood like this movie, and that scene.

Wonderul post! especially love the bunny slippers… I work in Hammond, Indiana where we display an exhibit celebrating this holiday classic! Although I’ve had my fill of leg lamps this year its nice to see how much the rest of America still enjoys this movie.

Thanks! I love all the Living In posts, and Amy, you always seem to choose the right one for me that week. I agree with the other commenter who wants to see one for “White Christmas.” If I could find (or fit into) that plaid skirt that Judy wears in the lodge, it would be amazing!

And in a shameless plug for Cleveland– this would be the perfect time of year to come to the Christmas Story House Museum (the exterior of the house appears in the movie), pick yourself up a wholesome leg lamp at the gift shop and stop at Sokolowski’s Inn (the best Polish cafeteria in town) for dinner afterwards.

Since I’ve found your blog, it’s become my secret treasure (although I’m terrible at keeping a secret and have told everyone, literally everyone about it). Particularly around Christmastime, it has been such a boon, such an inspiration.

So this is, really, a thank you.

Miss W x

LOVE this post! tradition is I can’t watch the movie till christmas eve, can’t wait! and yes DeAnna it’s lifebuoy, I was taught well about this movie!

merry christmas and don’t shoot your eye out :)

This is still my favorite Christmas movie. If anyone is traveling through or lives in Cleveland OH, you can actually visit the home they filmed in. It’s a museum dedicated to the movie now; complete with leg lamp!

My dad, whose name is Ralph, insisted we watch this movie every Christmas season! My mom nicknamed my dad “Ralphy” as a result. What memories. I can’t believe you found a leg lamp and all the vintage style decor, Amy. Well done.

I was just telling my German boyfriend last week how much i loved the pickle xmas-deco his father has in his tree every year. And now i see it here! Turns out it’s from a German glass factory. We’re definately buying some when we’re in Germany next week! Thanks for posting!

That’s the spirit! Thank you, Amy, for yet another irresistible post.
I feel deprived to have never seen this movie here in Paris. I guess it never crossed the Atlantic, but I’m going to try and order it to ensure a joyeux noël!

One of our absolute must-see movies every year. This year -this is the honest truth-an icicle fell off the house and cut my husbands face, missing his eye by a half-inch. ‘They” have been known to kill people, you know. One of our neighbors has a leg lamp in their window. It is the only decoration they have! Love this-great post!

I love the movie, too. Did you know you could be in your own movie of “You could shoot your eye out?” I just found it today, and you just use our own photos in the face parts. Hilarious!
You’ll find the link to making your own movie here:
ttp://sendables.jibjab.com/section/sy_movies

Hey,
You omitted the one item that really makes the movie memorable for me: The dreaded gift from Aunt Clara. The Pink Nightmare! The Deranged Easter Bunny!

Did you know that they (she) actually still make these? ‘Sewn in the USA’ no less by a company called –get this– Aunt Clara’s Creations. :D

http://www.PinkBunnyPajamas.com

Anyway, just thought you’d like to know. You really oughta update that post with the Pink Bunny Pajamas.

Merry Christmas Kid,
Ho..Hoooo….Hooooooooo.

My favorite christmas movie of all time…I watch it every single year around christmas…

Its always playing during my christmas party. And now that TNT or TBS is playing a 24 hour marathon of it every christmas eve and christmas, I never forget!

My all time favorite scene is when they are eating christmas dinner at the chinese restaurant…”Fah Raw Raw Raw Raw Raw, Raw Raw Raw Raw” lol

I love this movie. I can sit through it a million times and laugh and laugh the whole time. The best was when the leg lamp broke and the only response the Old Man could get out, “Notafinga!” Oooooh. Best Living In post to date!

I am from eastern Missouri and our family made the track to the house and museum in early December. It was great. The people were very nice and it was a wonderful time. My 14 year old daughter said it was the best gift ever (she is a huge fan of the movie). Guys if you love the movie…make time to go to the house…it is well worth it!

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